Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-03-24
FOUR MONSTROSlTIES.
Veteran Pittsburgh Physicians Almost
Incredible Discoveries.


Incredible Discoveries.
Four abnormal specimens of deform-
ity in the human race having come un-
der my observation at different times
thought few "reminiscences of each of
them might be interesting to the gen.
eral reader, and more especially to the
naturalist and biologist. Many of the
citizens of Pittsburgh yet living will
recollect the visit to this city some
forty years ago of the 'Siamese Twins, :"
born in Siam, in Asia. They were al
that time nearly twenty years of age,
and had been united at birth by firm
ligamentous band about four inches
broad and FIVE inches long, passing
from the chest of one to that of the
other in front, uniting the two INSOFAR
ably together, but permitting free
motion and use of the limbs
and organs of each, which
appeared to act simultaneously and in
simultaneously, as if governed by one
will and one mind. saw them hop
ping into a carriage at the corner OF
Penn avenue and Sixth street, each
with whip in his hand, with perfect
ease and facility, to take drive
through the city. They seemed to pos
sess an average amount of intelligence
and wherever they went were the OBJ
iect of much interest and curiosity.
They did few years since in the
United States.
Shortly after commencing the practice
of medicine in Pittsburgh l was called
to a case which in many respects
resembled that of the Siamese twins,
but different in Others. In this case
twine sisters were born, of ordinary
size and healthy appearance,
weighing together from ten to
twelve pounds, but they were dead
born. The ligamentous band, as in the
Siamese case, was wanting. AS rep
resented in the drawing, taken at the
time by competent artist, there were
two chests, two heads, with two eyes,
two ears each and two shoulders and
arms, and the lower extremities were
well developed and of natural form
But the band of union was to all ap
pearances concealed under the in
teguments covering the upper part o.
the stomach and epigastric region, anG
| con,nhn,u loura,, bo,, Il, fba noco nf tb,
Siamese twins, thus wrapping the two
bodies in one common sack or cavity
designed to contain the stomach, livel
and other important organs of single
individual
This hypothesis, however, would only
be confirmed or disproved by careful
examination with the dissecting knife
which the father Indignantly refused tt
permit. Knowing that the parents Of
the children belonged to the Catholi,
Church, / called upon the venerabl,
and worthy Father Mcclure, who a
the time presided over the church il
this region, and requested his aid anc
advice. He promptly acceded to m,
request, and Immediately wrote to tn
father and advised him to comply witt
my wishes. When the note was opened
and read his anger rose to a still highe
pitch, and he angrily repeated that nj
doctor and no dissecting knife shoult
touch those children. After some per
suasion permission was given that al
artist might take sketch of them, tn
father being present.
A third malformation was born o
colored parents in one of the Southern
States, shortly after the visit of tn
Siamese twins, and was connected wit
the travelling show of one of those be
nevolent wonder vendors who depen
on the curiosity of the public to in
crease their gains. This malformatio
was twin sisters, united something afte
the fashion of the last-described. The
lived to mature age, and had the ar
pearance of reasonably good health
and seemed to enjoy the kind of life i
which they were engaged. They wer
lusty and heavy, appeared to have bu
little power of locomotion and were Sc
dom off their large chair, which the
generally occupied
The manager of this travelling sho'
did not seem disposed to give much il
formation in regard to the twins, and
was unable 90 learn much of the man
ner of union.
Not long after my attendance on tn
D second case described l witnessed
: case of monstrosity, born also in Pitts
burgh-one still more remarkable tha
those above described. In fact, hav
, never heard or read of one like it.
/, was the case of a healthy-looking boy
, who, instead of the two beamins eye
that so beautifully adorn the huma
o face, had on ly one enormous eye, an
: that located in the center of his for
/, head, without an eyelid to protect i
The disgusting effect produced on 81
!, attending nurse when she first ca
: eyes on him aptly suggested to h,
. mind the horrid badge of deformity I
! would have been doomed to carry vii
him through life. Dropping on HI
: knees with upiifted hands, she e,
. claimed; Thank Heaven, he is deadl
Pittsburgh Commercial.
.
: "A young English swell, wi
e claimed to be cousin of the Earl
- ShroNvsb,,,-x- opd ,,,ho xx-ae al,,o,-s h.